De sancto Nicolao
The Life and Character of Saint Nicholas
This section explores the etymology of the name Nicholas and recounts his holy birth, early asceticism, and his first act of secret charity.
The name Nicholas comes from 'nicos,' meaning victory, and 'laos,' meaning people; so, Nicholas is, in a sense, the victory of the people. Or it refers to the victory over vices, which are both popular and vile; or it signifies victory in a proper sense, because by his life and teaching he taught many peoples to conquer vice and sin. Alternatively, Nicholas is said to come from 'nicos,' meaning victory, and 'laus,' meaning praise, which signifies 'victorious praise'; or from 'nitor' (brightness) and 'laos' (people), meaning 'the brightness of the people.' For he possessed within himself those qualities that produce brightness and purity. For according to Ambrose, divine speech cleanses, true confession cleanses, holy thought cleanses, and good works cleanse. The Argolic doctors wrote his legend. Now, according to Isidore, Argos is a city in Greece, from which the Argolic Greeks get their name. It is also recorded elsewhere that the patriarch Methodius wrote it in Greek, which John the Deacon later translated into Latin, adding much more to it. Nicholas was a citizen of Patara, born to wealthy and holy parents. His father was named Epiphanes, and his mother, Johanna. After his parents brought him into the world during their early youth, they lived a life of celibacy from that point on. On his very first day, while being bathed, he stood upright in the basin. Furthermore, on Wednesdays and Fridays he would nurse only once. Once he became a young man, he avoided the reckless behavior of others and instead spent his time at the church doors, memorizing whatever he could understand from the Holy Scripture. After his parents died, he began to consider how he might distribute such a great abundance of wealth, not for human praise, but for the glory of God. At that time, a neighbor of his, a man of some nobility, was forced by poverty to prostitute his three virgin daughters so that he might survive through their shameful trade.
The Secret Giver
Nicholas provides gold to a destitute father to save his daughters from shame, insisting on remaining anonymous.
When the saint found out about this, he was horrified by the wickedness of it; he wrapped a mass of gold in a cloth, threw it secretly through the window into the man's house at night, and then slipped away unnoticed. The man woke up in the morning, found the mass of gold, and after giving thanks to God, celebrated his eldest daughter's wedding; not long after, the servant of God performed a similar act. When the man found it again, he burst into immense praise and decided to keep watch from then on, so he could find out who it was that had come to the aid of his poverty. A few days later, he threw a double mass of gold into the house; the man was awakened by the sound, chased after the fleeing Nicholas, and called out to him, "Stop, don't hide yourself from my sight!" He hurried forward, recognized that it was Nicholas, and immediately threw himself on the ground, wanting to kiss his feet, but Nicholas refused and demanded that he not make him known as long as he lived.
Election and Episcopal Ministry
Nicholas is divinely chosen as the Bishop of Myra and continues to lead with humility and pastoral rigor.
After this, when the bishop of Myra had died, the bishops gathered to provide that church with a new bishop; a bishop of great authority was present among them, and the decision of all depended on his choice. After urging everyone to devote themselves to fasting and prayer, he heard a voice that night telling him to watch the church doors at daybreak and to consecrate the first person he saw entering who was also named Nicholas. He shared this with the other bishops and advised them to keep praying, while he stood guard at the doors. Marvelously, at the hour of matins, Nicholas appeared, as if sent by God; the bishop caught hold of him and asked, "What is your name?" With the simplicity of a dove, he bowed his head and said, "Nicholas, the servant of your holiness." They led him into the church and, despite his strong resistance, placed him in the bishop's chair. He continued to pursue the same humility and gravity of character as before; he kept vigil in prayer, mortified his body, avoided the company of women, remained humble toward everyone, spoke effectively, was eager in his exhortations, and was severe in his corrections.
Miracles of Mercy and Protection
Nicholas intervenes to save sailors, provides grain during a famine, and destroys pagan idols.
It's also said, as one reads in a certain chronicle, that Nicholas was present at the Council of Nicaea. One day, while some sailors were in danger, they prayed with tears: 'Nicholas, servant of God, if what we hear about you is true, let us experience it now.' Suddenly, someone appeared who looked just like him, saying, 'Look, I'm here!' 'For you called me.' He began to help them with the yardarms, the ropes, and the other rigging of the ship, and the storm stopped immediately. When they arrived at his church, they recognized him, even though they'd never seen him before, without anyone pointing him out. Then they gave thanks to God and to him for their deliverance, because he taught them to attribute it to divine mercy and their own faith, not to his merits. At one time, a severe famine struck Saint Nicholas's entire province, leaving everyone without food. When the man of God heard that ships loaded with wheat had docked at the port, he went there immediately and asked the sailors to help those suffering from the famine with at least one hundred bushels from each ship. They replied, "We don't dare, Father, because it was measured in Alexandria, and we have to deliver it to the Emperor's granaries." The Saint said to them, "Do as I say, and I promise you by the power of God that you won't have any shortage when you reach the royal official." When they had done this and delivered the same amount to the Emperor's ministers that they had received in Alexandria, they reported the miracle and praised God greatly for his servant. The man of God distributed the grain according to each person's need, so that miraculously it was enough not only for two years of food, but it was also abundant enough to be used for seed. Because that region had served idols, and the people had worshipped the image of the foul Diana above all others, some of the country folk continued to practice that detestable religion even up to the time of the man of God, performing certain pagan rites under a tree consecrated to Diana. The man of God drove this practice from every corner of the land and ordered the tree itself to be cut down. Enraged by this, the ancient enemy—who had concocted an oil of Midian that burns by nature in water and on stone—disguised himself as a religious woman. He met some people sailing to the man of God in a small boat and said, "I would love to come with you to the Saint of God, but I cannot. I ask you, therefore, to offer this oil at his church and, in my memory, use it to coat the walls of his hall," and he vanished immediately. Then they saw another small boat with honorable people, among whom was one who looked exactly like Saint Nicholas, who said to them, "Alas, what did that woman say to you, or what did she bring?" They told him everything in order. He said to them, "That is the shameless Diana, and so that you may prove I am telling the truth, throw that oil into the sea." As they threw it in, a huge fire ignited on the sea and was seen burning on the water for a long time, contrary to its nature. When they came to the servant of God, they said, "Truly, you are the one who appeared to us on the sea and saved us from the devil's snares."
The Deliverance of the Innocent
Nicholas saves three commanders from unjust execution and later intercedes for them before the Emperor.
During that same time, when a certain nation had rebelled against the Roman Empire, the Emperor sent three commanders—Nepotianus, Ursus, and Apilio—against them; but because they were forced into the Adriatic port by contrary winds, Saint Nicholas invited them to eat with him, wanting them to restrain their people from the looting they were carrying out at the markets. Meanwhile, While the Saint was away, a consul, corrupted by money, ordered three innocent men to be beheaded by his soldiers. When the holy man heard of this, he asked those commanders to hurry with him to that place at a fast pace, and arriving at the spot where... they were about to be beheaded, he found them with their knees bent and their faces already covered, and the executioner had already swung his sword over their heads. But Nicholas, fired with zeal, boldly threw himself at the executioner, knocked the sword from his hand from a distance, and, setting the innocent men free, led them away unharmed with him. He then hurried to the consul's headquarters and forced open the locked doors. The consul soon ran up to him and greeted him, but the Saint, rejecting this, said: "Enemy of God, violator of the law, with what recklessness did you presume, conscious of such a crime, to look upon my face?" After scolding him severely, he finally accepted his repentance at the request of those leaders. Once they received his blessing, the emperor's messengers went on their way, subdued their impious enemies without bloodshed, and were received magnificently by the emperor upon their return. However, some people who were jealous of their success offered the emperor's prefect both prayers and money to accuse them before the emperor of the crime of treason. When he suggested this to the emperor, the emperor was filled with such rage that he ordered them to be imprisoned and commanded that they be killed that very night without any questioning. When they learned of this from their guard, they tore their clothes and began to weep bitterly. Then one of them, Nepotianus, remembering that Saint Nicholas had once saved three innocent men, urged the others to beg for his protection. In response to these prayers, Saint Nicholas appeared to the Emperor Constantine that night, saying: 'Why have you so unjustly...' '...seized these leaders and condemned them to death without a crime?' 'Get up quickly and order them to be released at once.' If you don't, I pray to God that He stirs up a war against you, in which you'll fall and become food for the beasts. The emperor asked, "Who are you, to enter my palace tonight and dare to speak like this?" He replied, "I am Nicholas, bishop of the city of Myra." He also terrified the prefect in a vision, saying, "You've lost your mind and your senses; why have you consented to the slaughter of the innocent?" Go quickly and make an effort to set them free. If you don't, your body will swarm with worms and your house will be destroyed all the sooner. The prefect asked, "Who are you, to threaten us with such things?" "Know," he said, "that I am Nicholas, bishop of the city of Myra." When both men woke up, they immediately shared their dreams with each other and sent word at once for the prisoners to be released. The emperor replied to them, "What magic arts do you know, that you would deceive us with such dreams?" They answered him that they were not magicians, nor had they deserved a death sentence. Then the emperor asked, "Do you know a man named Nicholas?" When they heard his name, they raised their hands to heaven, begging God to deliver them from their danger through the merits of Saint Nicholas. After the emperor learned about his life and miracles from them, he said, "Go, and give thanks to God, who has delivered you through his prayers." . Take him some of our gifts as well, and ask him to stop threatening me, and instead to offer prayers to the Lord for me and my kingdom. A few days later, these men prostrated themselves before the servant of God, saying, "You are truly a servant of God, truly a worshiper and lover of Christ." And when they had recounted everything to him in order, he raised his hands to heaven, offered immense praise to God, and sent the well-instructed leaders back to their own lands.
Death and Translation of Relics
The saint passes into glory, and his remains are later moved from Myra to Bari.
When the Lord was ready to take him, he asked that His angels be sent to him. Then, bowing his head, he saw the angels approaching and recited the psalm, 'In You, O Lord, I have hoped,' up to the words, 'Into Your hands,' and so on. He gave up his spirit in the year of our Lord 300. 40. 102, where the music of the heavenly host was heard. While he was buried in a marble tomb, a spring of oil flowed from his head and a spring of water from his feet. To this day, sacred oil still exudes from his remains, which is effective for the healing of many. A good man succeeded him, but he was driven from his seat by envious people. When he was cast out, the oil stopped flowing, but as soon as he was recalled, it immediately began to flow again. A long time later, the Turks destroyed the city of Myra, but 47 soldiers from Bari went there. With four monks standing by, they opened the tomb of Saint Nicholas and brought his bones, which were floating in oil, to the city of Bari in the year of our Lord 1087.
Miracles of Faith and Veneration
A collection of post-mortem miracles involving Jews, debtors, and kidnapped youths who experience the saint's protection.
A man borrowed a sum of money from a Jew, and because he couldn't find anyone else to act as a guarantor, he swore on the altar of Saint Nicholas that he would pay it back as soon as he possibly could. But when the man held onto the money for a long time, the Jew demanded it back, yet the man claimed he had already returned it. The Jew therefore dragged him to court, and the debtor was ordered to take an oath; he had brought with him a hollow staff that he had filled with gold coins, as if he needed it to lean on. Wishing, therefore, to take the oath, he handed the staff to the Jew to hold. He swore that he had returned even more than he owed, and once the oath was made, he asked for his staff back; the Jew, unaware of the trick, returned it to him. But as the man who had committed the fraud was returning home, he fell asleep at a crossroads, and a carriage coming at full speed killed him, broke the staff full of gold, and spilled the coins. When the Jew heard this, he rushed to the scene. Seeing the trickery and being urged by many to take the gold, he refused entirely unless the man who had died were restored to life by the merits of Saint Nicholas. He asserted that if this happened, he would receive baptism and become a Christian. Immediately, the man who had died was brought back to life, and the Jew was baptized in the name of Christ. A certain Jew, witnessing the powerful virtue of Saint Nicholas in working miracles, ordered an image of him to be made and placed it in his house. Whenever he went away for a long time, he would entrust his possessions to it with threats, saying, "Look, Nicholas, I’m entrusting all my goods to you for safekeeping. If you don't guard them well, I’ll take vengeance on you with beatings and lashes." Then, one time while he was away, thieves arrived, stole everything, and left only the image behind. When the Jew returned and saw that he had been robbed, he spoke to the image, saying, "Lord Nicholas, didn't I place you in my house so that you would protect my goods from thieves?" Why didn't you want to do this, and why didn't you stop the thieves? Therefore, you’ll receive harsh torments, and you’ll pay the penalty for the thieves. I’ll compensate for my loss with your torments, and I’ll cool my fury with your beatings and lashes. So the Jew took the image and beat it harshly and lashed it severely. It was a truly wondrous and amazing thing. While the thieves were dividing what they had stolen, the Saint of God appeared, as if he had received the beatings in his own person, and said, "Why have I been lashed so harshly on your account?" Why have you beaten me so cruelly? Why have you endured so many torments? Look at how my body is bruised! Look at how it’s reddened by the shedding of blood! Go quickly and return everything you’ve taken; otherwise, the wrath of Almighty God will rage against you, so that your crime will be made public and each of you will suffer the gallows. They replied, "Who are you to speak such things to us?" He said, "I am Nicholas, the servant of Jesus Christ, whom that Jew so cruelly scourged on account of his goods, which you have taken." Terrified, they went to the Jew, reported the miracle, heard from him what he had done to the image, and returned everything; and so the thieves returned to the path of righteousness, and the Jew embraced the faith of the Savior. A. A certain man, out of love for his son who was learning his letters, celebrated the feast of Saint Nicholas solemnly every year. One time, therefore, the boy's father prepared a feast and invited many clerics. But the devil came to the door in the guise of a pilgrim, asking for alms to be given to him. The father ordered his son to give alms to the pilgrim as quickly as possible. The boy hurried, but not finding the pilgrim, he followed after him as he was leaving. When he reached a crossroads, the devil grabbed the boy and strangled him. Hearing this, the father groaned deeply, took the body, placed it in a chamber, and began to cry out in his grief, saying, "My dearest son, how is it with you?" Saint Nicholas, is this the reward for the honor I've shown you for so long? And as he said these things and others like them, the boy immediately opened his eyes, as if waking from sleep, and got up. Af. A certain nobleman asked blessed Nicholas to obtain a son for him from the Lord, promising that he would bring the boy to his church and offer a golden cup. The son was born, grew to maturity, and a cup was ordered to be made. When the father was very pleased with it, he adapted it for his own use and ordered another one of equal value to be made. As they were sailing to the church of Saint Nicholas, the father ordered his son to bring him water in the cup he had first commissioned. But when the boy tried to draw water with the cup, he fell into the sea and immediately disappeared. The father, weeping bitterly, nevertheless fulfilled his vow. When he arrived at the altar of Saint Nicholas and offered the second cup, he fell from the altar as if thrown; but when he picked it up and placed it on the altar again, it was thrown off the altar even further. As everyone marveled at such a great sight, the boy suddenly appeared, safe and sound, carrying the first cup in his hands; he told everyone how, when he fell into the sea, Saint Nicholas was there at once and kept him from harm. And so, his father, filled with joy, offered both cups to Saint Nicholas. A certain man, wealthy through the merits of blessed Nicholas, had a son whom he named Adeodatus. He built a chapel to the Saint of God in his own home and solemnly celebrated his feast day every year. However, that place was located near the land of the Hagarenes. Adeodatus was therefore captured one day by the Hagarenes and assigned to the service of their king. The following year, while his father was devoutly celebrating the feast of Saint Nicholas and the boy was standing by the king holding a precious cup, he remembered his own capture, his parents' grief, and the joy happening at home that day, and he began to sigh deeply. When the king had extorted the cause of these sighs through threats, the king said, "Whatever your Nicholas may do, you will stay here with us." And suddenly, a violent wind arose and shook the whole house; the boy was snatched up with the cup and placed before the doors of the church where his parents were celebrating the feast, and great joy was generated for everyone. It is read elsewhere, however, that the aforementioned youth was from Normandy, who, while traveling overseas, was captured by the Sultan and... His master beat him often. While he was being beaten on the feast of Saint Nicholas, he wept in his prison cell, praying for his release and for the joy his parents usually felt on that day. Suddenly, he fell asleep, and when he woke up, he found himself in his father's chapel.
Read the original Latin
Nicolaus dicitur a nicos, quod est victoria, et laos, quod est populus, id est Nicolaus, quasi victoria populi i. e, vitiorum quae et popularia et vilia sunt; vel victoria proprie, quia multos populos vita et doctrina docuit vitia et peccata vincere. Vel Nicolaus dicitur a nicos, quod est victoria et laus, quasi victoriosa laus; vel a nitor et laos, quod est populus, quasi nitor populi. Habuit enim in se ea, quae nitorem et munditiam faciunt. Nam secundum Ambrosium mundat sermo divinus, mundat vera confessio, mundat sancta 'cogitatio, mundat bona operatio. Ejus legendam doctores Argolici conscripserunt. Est autem Argos secundum Ysidorum civitas Graeciae, unde Argolici Graeci vocantur. Alibi quoque legitur, quod Methodius patriarcha eam Graece conscripsit, quam Johannes diaconus in latinum transtulit et plura addidit.
Nicolaus civis Paterae urbis ex divitibus et sánctis parentibus originem duxit. Pater ejus Epiphanes, mater vero Johanna dicta est. Quem cum primaevo juventutis suae flore parentes genuissent, deinceps caelibem vitam duxerunt. Hic prima die dum balnearetur, erectus stetit in pelvi. Insuper quarta et sexta feria lantum semel sugebat ubera. Factus autem juvenis aliorum devitans lascivias ecclesiarum potius terebat limina et quidquid ibi de sacra scriptura intelligere poterat, memoriter retinebat. Parentibus vero suis defunctis cogitare coepit, qualiter tantam divitiarum copiam non ad landem humanam sed ad Dei gloriam dispensaret. Tunc quidam contermineus suus satis nobilis tres fillas virgines ob inopiam prostituere cogitur, ut sic infami eornm commercio aleretur.
Quod ubi sanctus comperit, scelus abhorruit et massam auri panno involutam in domum ejus per fenestram nocte clam jecit et clam recessit. Mane autem surgens homo massam auri reperit et Deo gratiam agens primogenitae nuptias celebravit, Non multo post tempore Dei famulus simile peregit opus. Quod rursus ille reperiens et ia laudes immensas prorumpens de caetero vigilare proposuit, ut sciret, quis esset, qui suae inopiae subvenisset. Post paucos eliam dies duplicatam auri massam in domum projecit, ad cujus sonitum ille excitatur et Nicolaum fugientem insequitur talique voce alloquitur: siste gradum teque aspectui ne subtrahas meo, sicque aceurrens velocius Nicolaum hunc esse cognovit; mox humi prostratus osculari volebat pedes ejus, quod ille refutans ab eo exegit, ne eum quamdiu viveret, publicaret,
Post hoc Mireae civitatis defuncto episcopo convenerunt episcopi, illi ecclesiae de episcopo provisuri, Aderat autem inter eos quidam magnae anctoritatis episcopus, ad cujus electionem omnium sententia dependebat. Cum igitur cunctos jejuniis et orationibus insistere monuisset, nocte illa vocem audivit dicentem sibi, ut hora matntina fores ecclesiae observaret et quem primum ad ecclesiam, cujus etiam nomen esset Nicolaus, venire conspiceret, ipsum in episcopum consecraret. Hoc ergo aliis revelans episcopis admonuit, ut omnes orationibus insisterent et ipse pro foribus exeubaret. Mirum in modum in hora matutinali quasi a Deo missus ante omnes se agebat Nicolaus, quem apprehendens episcopus dixit ei; quod tibi nomen est? Ille ut erat columbina simplicitate plenus, inclinato capite: Nicolaus, inquit, vestrae sanctitatis servus. Quem in ecclesiam ducentes licet ) plurimum renitentem in cathedram collocarunt. : Ipse antem eandem, quam prius, humilitatem et morum gravitatem in omnibus sectabatur, in oratione pervigilabat, corpus macerabat, mulierum consortia fugiebat, humilis erat in omnes suspiciendo, efficax in loquendo, alacer in exhortando, severus in corripiendo.
Ferfur quoque, sieut legitur in Groniea quadam, Nicolaum Nicaeno interfuisse concilio. Quadam autem die dum quidam nautae periclitarentur, ita cum lacrimis oraverunt: Nicolae famule Dei, si vera sunt, quae de te audimus, nunc ea experiamur. Mox quidam in ejus similitudinem apparuit dicens: ecce assum! vocastis enim me. Et coepit eos in antennis et rudentibus aliisque juvare navis armamentis; statimque cessavit tempestas. Cum autem ad ejus ecclesiam venissent, quem nunquam ante viderant, sine indice cognoverunt. Tunc Deo et sibi de liberatione gratias egerunt, quod ille divinae misericordiae et eorum fidei, mon suis meritis attribuere docuit,
Quodam tempore totam provinciam Sancti Nicolai fames valida ) perculit, ita ut omnibus deficerent alimenta. Audiens autem vir Dei naves onustas tritico portui applicasse, illuc Statim proficiscitur rogans nautas, ut saltem in centum modiis per quamlibet navem fame periclitantibus subvenirent. Cui illi: non audemus, pater, quia mensuratum est Alexandriae, oportet in horrea imperatoris nos reddere. Quibus Sanctus dixit: facite nunc, quod dico et vobis in Dei virtute promitto, quod nullam minorationem habebitis apud regium exactorem. Quod cum fecissent, et eandem mensuram, quam Alexandriae acceperant, reddidissent ministris imperatoris, miraculum referunt et Deum in suo famulo magnifica laude attollunt. Frumentum autem secundum uniuscujusque indigentiam vir Dei distribuit, ita ut miraculose duobus annis non tantum ad victum sufficeret, sed etiam ad usum seminis abundaret,
Cum autem regio illa ydolis deservisset, prae caeteris nefandae Dyanae simulacrum populus coluerat adeo, uteusque ad tempus viri Dei nonnulli rustici praedictae religioni exsecrabili deservirent ac sub quadam arbore consecrata Dyanae quosdam ritus gentilium exercerent. Ac vir Dei praedictum ritum de omnibus finibus expulit ipsamque arborem praecidi mandavit, Iratus ex hoc contra eum hostis antiquus oleum Mydyaton, quod in naturam in aqua et lapidibus ardet, confecit seque in formam religiosae feminae transfigurans quibusdam ad virum Dei navigantibus in quadam saginula obviavit sicque affata est eos: mallem ad Sanctum Dei venire vobiscum, sed nequeo: rogo ergo vos, ut hoc oleum ad ejus ecclesiam offeratis et ob mei memoriam exinde aulae ejus parietes liniatis, et statim evanuit. Et ecce aliam cernunt naviculam cum honestis personis, inter quos erat simillimus sancto Nicolao, qui sic ait illis: heu quid mulier illa locuta est vobis vel quid attulit? — Illi antem cuncta per ordinem narraverunt. Quibus ille: haec est impudica Dyana, et ut me verum dicere comprobetis, oleum illud in mare projicite. Quibus projicientibus Ingens ignis in mari succenditur et contra naturam diutius in mari ardens conspicitur. Venientes igitur ad servum Dei ajebant: vere tu es ille, qui nobis in mari apparuisti et a dyaboli insidiis liberasti.
Per idem tempus cum quaedam gens Romano imperio rebellasset, contra eam nperator tres principes Nepotianum, Ursum et Apilionem misit, quos portui Adriatico ob ventum contrarium applicatos beatus Nicolaus ut secum comederent, invitavit, volens ut gentem suam a rapinis compescerent, quas in nundinis exercebant. Interim. dum Sanctus abesset, consul corruptus pecunia tres innocentes militeĝ jussit decollari. Quod ut vir sanctus audivit, rogavit principes illos, ut secum illuc usque gradu concito properarent, veniensque ad locum, ubi de. collandi erant, invenit eos poplite flexo et facie jam velata et Spiculatorem ensem super eorum capita jam vibrasse. At Nicolaus zelo accensus et in lictorem se audacter ingessit et gladium de ejus manu eminus propulit innocentesque solvens eos incolumes secum duxit. lico ad praetorium consulis properat et fores clausas vi reserat. Mox illi consul accurrens salutavit eum, Aspernens hoc Sanctus dixit: inimice Dei, legis praevaricator, qua temeritate praesumsisti tanti conscius sceleris vultum aspicere nostrum?
Quem postquam plurimum objurgasset, ad preces tamen illorum ducum eum poenitentem hgnigtte recipit. Recepta igitur benedictione imperiales nuntii iter peragunt et impios sine sanguine hostes subdunt redientesque ab imperatore magnifice sunt recepti. Quidam autem eorum felicitatibus invidentes, praefecto imperatoris prece et pretio suggesserunt, ut eos apud imperatorem de laesae majestatis crimine accusaret, Quod cum imperatori suggessisset, ille nimis furore repletus eos incarcefari praecepit ac sine aliqua interrogalione illa eos nocte occidi mandavit. Quod cum a custode ) didicissent, sciderunt vestimenta sua et gemere amare coeperunt. Tunc umus eorum, scilicet Nepotianus, recolens quod' beatus Nicolaus tres innocentes liberaverat, exhortatus est alios, ut ejus patrocinia flagitarent. Quibus orationibus sanctus Nicolaus nocte illa Constantino imperatori apparuit dicens: cur illos principes tam injuste com. prehendisti et morti sine crimine addixisti? Surge velox eosque quantocius dimitti jubeto.
Si non autem, oro Deum, ut tibi suscitet bellum, in quo tu corruas et bestiis cibus fias. Cul imperalor: qui es tu, qui hac nocte palatium meum ingressus talia audes loqui? Cui ille: ego sum Nicolaus Mireae civitatis episcopus. Sic et praefectum similiter terruit per visum dicens: mente et sensu perdite, eur in necem innocentium consensisti? Perge cito et eos liberare stude. Si non antem, corpus tuum vermibus scaturiet et domus tua citius destruetur. Cui ille: quis es tu, qui nobis tanta minaris? Scito, inquit, me esse Nicolaum Mireae civitatis episcopum, Utrisque evigilantibus statim mutuo sua somnia pandunt et pro illis incarcéfátis continuo mittunt.
Quibus autem imperator: quas magicas artes nostis, ut tantis nos illudatis somniis? Cui responderunt, se magos non esse nec mortis sententiam meruisse. Tunc imperator: nostis, inquit, hominem, cui nomen est Nicolaus? At illi audito hoc nomine manus extenderunt ad coelum, rogantes Deum, ut eos sancti Nicolai meritis a praesenti periculo liberaret, Et cum imperator totam vitam ejus et mirabilia ab iis didicisset, dixit lis: ite et Deo gratias agite, qui vos ejus precibus Jiberavit. . Sed et de nostris eidem afferte gaudiolis rogantes eum, ut ulterius mihi minas non inferat, sed pro me et regno meo ad dominum preces fundat. Post paucos dies praedicti viri ad Dei famulum se proSternunt dicentes: vere famulus Dei es, vere cultor et amator Christi. Cumque sibi omnia per ordinem rétulisgent, ille elevatis in coelum manibus immensas Deo laudes retulit ac bene instructos principes ad propria remisit.
Cum autem dominus vellet eum assumere, rogavit dominum, ut angelos suos sibi mitteret, et inclinato capite angelos ad se venire vidit et dicto psalmo: in te domine speravi usque, in manus tuas etc. tradidit spiritum anno domini CCC. XL. IIL, ubi coelestium melódia audita est. Qui dum sepultus fuisset in tumba marmorea, a capite fons olei et a pedibus fons aquae profluxit et usque hodie ex ejus membris sacrum resudat oleum valens in salutem multorum. Successit autem ei quidam vir bonus, qui tamen de sede sua ab invidis est depulsus, Quo ejecto oleum fluere desiit, sed eo revocato protinus emanavit. Post multum vero temporis Turei Miream urbem destruxerunt, XLVII vero milltes Barenses illuc profecti quatuor monachis sibi astantibus tumbam sancti Nicolai aperuerunt ossaque ejus In oleo natantia in urbem Baream detulerunt, anno domini millesimo octuagesimo septimo,
Vir quidam ab uno Judaeo quandam summam pecuniae mutuo accepit, jurans super altare sancti Nicolai, cum alium fidejussorem habere nequiret, quod quam citius posset, sibi redderet. Tenente autem ille diu pecuniam Judaeus eam expostulavit, sed eam sibi reddidisse affirmat. Trahit ergo eum ad judicium et juramentum indicitur debitori, Ille baculum cavatum, quem auro minuto impleverat, secum detulerat, ac si ejus adminiculo indigeret. Volens igitur facere juramentum Judaeo baculum tradidit reservandum. Juravit ille, quod plus igitur reddiderit etiam, quam deberet, Facto juramento baculum suum repetiit et Judaeus ignaruş astutiae eum sibi reddidit. Rediens autem, qui fraudem fecerat, in quodam bivio oppressus corruit somno currusque cum impetu veniens eum necavit et plenum baculum auro fregit et aurum effudit. Audiens hoc Judaeus concitus illico venit cumque dolum vidisset et a multis ei suggereretur, ut aurum reciperet, omnino renuit, nisi qui defunctus fuerat, ad vitam beati Nicolai meritis redderetur, asserens, 8e, i hoc fieret, baptismum suscepturum et Christianum futurum, Continuo qui defunctus fuerat, suscitatur et Judaeus in Christi uomine baptisatur,
Quidam Judaeus videns beati Nicolai virtuosam potentiam in miraculis faciendis, imaginem ejus sibi fieri praecepit eamque in pa domo collocavit, cui res suas, cum aliquo longius iret, cum minis commendabat haec vel similia verba dicens : ecce Nicolae, omnia bona mea tibi custodienda committo et nisi omnia bene custodieris, ultionem expetam de te verberibus et flagellis. Quadam igitur vice dum ille abesset, fures adveniunt, cuncta rapiunt, solam imaginem dereliuquunt. Judaeus autem rediens et se spoliatum videns imaginem alloquitur talibus vel similibus usus verbis: domine Nicolae, nonne in domo mea te posueram, ut res meas a latronibus servares? Gur hoc facere noluisti et latrones quare non prohibuisti? Igitur dira tormenta recipies et pro latronibus poenam lues ; sieque damnum meum in tuis recompensabo tormentis et furorem meum in tuis refrigerabo verberibus et flagellis. Accipiens ergo Judaeus imaginem dire eam verberat direque flagellat. Mira res prorsus et stupenda. Dividentibus furibus, quae rapuerant, Sanctus Dei tamquam in se verbera recepisset, apparuit, haec vel similia verba dicens: cur tam dire pro vobis flagellatus sum?
cur tam crudeliter verberatus? cur tormenta tot passus? Ecce quomodo corpus meum livet! Ecce qualiter effusione sanguinis rubet! pergite citius et cuncta reddite quae tulistis: alioquin Dei omnipotentis in vos ira desaeviet, ita ut scelus vestrum in medium publicetur et quilibet vestrum suspendium patiatur. Ad quem illi: quis es tu qui nobis talia loqueris? Et ille: ego sum Nicolaus, servus Jesu Christi, quem Judaeus ille pro rebus suis, quas tulistis, tam condeliter flagellavit. Territi illi ad Judaeum veniunt, miraculum referunt, ab eo quid imagini fecerit, audiunt, cuncta reddunt, sicque et latrones ad viam redeunt rectitudinis et Judaeus fidem amplectitur salvatoris.
A0. Vir quidam pro amore filii sui litteras addiscentis festum sancti Nicolai annuatim solemniter celebrabat. Quadam igitur vice pater pueri convivium praeparavit et multos clericos invitavit. Venit autem dyabolus ad januam in habitu peregrini petens eleemosynam sibi dari. Jubet quantocius pater filio ut det eleemosynam peregrino. Properat puer, sed peregrinum non inveniens insequitur abeuntem. Cümque ad quoddam compitum pervenisset, apprehendens dyabolus puerum, eum strangulavit. Quod audiens pater vehementer ingemuit, corpus tulit, in thalamo collocavit coepitque prae dolore clamare et dicere: fili dilectissime, quomodo est vobis?
Sancte Nicolae haeccine est merces honoris, quem vobis tamdiu exhibui. Et cum haec et similia diceret, statim puer quasi de somno evigilans oculos aperuit et surrexit.
Af. Vir quidam nobilis rogavit bealum Nicolaum, ut sibi filium a domino impetraret, promittens, se filium ad ecclesiam ejus ducturum et scyphum aureum oblaturum. Filius igitur nascitur et ad aetatem perducitur et scyphus fieri jubetur. Qui dum sibi valde placeret, suis eum adaptavit usibus et alium aeque valentem fieri praecepit. Navigantibus itaque ad ecclesiam sancti Nicolai jubet pater filio, ut in illo scypho, quem primo fieri fecit, aquam sibi afferret. Puer autem, quum vellet haurire cum scypho, in mare cecidit et statim disparuit. Pater autem amare flens nihilominus votum suum perfecit. Veniens igitur ad altare sancti Nicolai cum obtulisset secundum scyphum tamquam projectus cecidit de altari; cum autem eum elevasset et super altare iterum posuisset, rursus de altari longius est projectus.
— Mirantibus omnibus ad tam grande spectaculum, ecce puer sanus et incolumis advenit primum scyphum suis gestans manibus, narravitque coram omnibus, quod quando in mare cecidit, statim beatus Nicolaus affuit et eum illaesum servavit. Sicque pater ejus laetus effectus utrumque scyphum beato Nicolao obtulit,
Quidam vir dives meritis beati Nicolai filium habuit, quem Adeodatum vocavit. Hic Sancto Dei capellam in domo sua construens omni anno festum ejus solemniter celebravit. Erat autem locus ille situs juxta terram Agarenorum. Adeodatus ergo quadam vice ab Agarenis capitur et in servitutem regis eorum deputatur. Sequenti anno dum festum sancti Nicolai pater ejus devote celebraret et puer scyphum pretiosum tenens regi assisteret, recolit suam captionem et parentum dolorem et gaudium, quod in domo sua ea die fiebat, coepitque altius suspirare. Quorum suspiriorum causam dum rex minis extorsisset, ait rex: quidquid tuus Nicolaus agat, tu hic nobiscum manebis. Et subito facto vento vehementi totamque domum concutiente puer cum scypho rapitur et ante fores ecclesiae, ubi parentes agebant sollemnia, collocatur et magnum gaudium omnibus generatur. Alibi legitur tamen, quod praedictus juvenis fuit de Normandia, qui ultra mare pergens a Soldano capitur et !)
ab ipso saepe verberatur: qui dum in festo sancti Nicolai verberaretur ) et in carcere inclusus fleret et pro sua liberatione et pro laetitia, quam tunc habere consueverant parentes ejus, subito obdormivit et evigilans in capella patris sui se invenit.
The Golden Legend (Legenda Aurea) companion
Continue through all 240 chapters, one saint a day
Chosen Portion serves the Golden Legend as a daily portion on iOS, free, alongside the full Sub Rosa archive
The Legenda Aurea was organized for day-by-day use across the liturgical year, and Chosen Portion restores that original one-feast-per-day reading rhythm
- A complete saint's life or feast reading most days in 5-10 minutes
- 240 chapters - enough daily readings to cover a full liturgical year and beyond
- Daily reminders so the plan survives busy weeks